BY JOEL CALAMBA ESCOL, Managing Editor
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines — Three more victims of the deadly road accident in barangay Agusan, this city, on December 5, 2022, died at the hospitals, police authorities reported.
The three victims were declared dead on arrival by attending physicians and the death toll now rises to eight, bringing the name of those injured down to 13.
Cocpo director PCol Aaron Mandia has already confirmed the eight passengers of the Bongo truck and considered the accident one of the worst accident in Cagayan de Oro.
Traffic investigator, PCol Rodulfo Abaday told the media that one woman victim who was rushed to the hospital yesterday has already died. The doctor pronounced her dead on arrival (DOA). Another victim also died at the hospital, the report said.
Most of the remaining passengers who were wounded were brought to Northern Mindanao Medical Center in Cagayan de Oro, the police report added.
Police investigators have yet to officially identify the dead bodies as well as those injured individuals while investigation is still going on.
Initial investigation by the police showed that the victims were all families and relatives who attended a burial of their kin in Zamboanga del Sur. Unfortunately, upon going back home in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental, the Bongo truck they were riding collided head on with a Fuzo Fighter truck at the national highway in Barangay Agusan, this city, causing the deaths and injuries of all the passengers.
PCol Rodulfo Abaday, traffic investigator at Puerto Police Station identified the Fuzo truck driver as a certain Julieto Jabagat Telen, married and a resident of Baloi, Brgy Tablon, this city, while the Bongo truck driver has yet to be known by police investigators.
Traffic investigator Abaday said the Bongo truck driver, Alvin Escabarte, died on the spot due to the heavy impact of the collission.
In an interview with the traffic enforcer, Telen claimed he tried to put a break on his vehicle but the Bongo rammed his truck loaded with live chickens.
Abaday said, the driver, Julieto Jabagat is now languishing at Puerto mini cell while charges will be filed against him for reckless imprudence resulting into multiple homicide,multiple physical injuries ug damage to property.
The police reported all the dead bodies are now at Bollozos Funeral Homes while those injured are brought to different hospitals in the city.
